Message #6 From:
NewsBot Date: December 9, 2005 12:30:00 AM
XKEM News Xechem Expands its Arsenal for Treating Sickle Cell Disease; Licenses New Anti-Sickling Agent from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 2005--Xechem International, Inc. (OTC BB: XKEM) Xechem International announced today that it has acquired the exclusive, worldwide licensing rights to a new five-membered heterocyclic anti-sickling compound from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, VA. Early research has shown this anti-sickling agent to be a highly effective and relatively non-toxic treatment for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). The new compound further expands Xechem's existing portfolio of products to be used in the fight against Sickle Cell Disease.
Previously, Xechem International successfully acquired the exclusive worldwide license from the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development ("NIPRD"), Ministry of Health, Government of Nigeria, for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of NICOSAN(TM)/HEMOXIN(TM), an all natural, phyto-pharmaceutical product that has also shown enormous promise for SCD. Both the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union's regulatory body have already granted to Xechem "Orphan Drug" status for NICOSAN(TM)/HEMOXIN(TM), and the Company is currently in the process of preparing an Investigational New Drug (IND) Application for submission to the FDA and applicable EU agencies.
According to Xechem's Chairman and CEO, Dr. Ramesh C. Pandey, "We know of no existing non-toxic medicines available anywhere in the world for the effective treatment of Sickle Cell Disease. Between our existing product, NICOSAN(TM)/HEMOXIN(TM), a non-toxic product that has shown excellent results in Phase IIA and Phase IIB clinical trials in Nigeria, and this promising new heterocyclic pharmaceutical agent being developed in collaboration with VCU, Xechem will be in a truly unique position to offer viable and efficacious treatments to patients suffering with this painful and debilitating condition."
Professor Don Abraham of VCU says that "the five membered heterocyclic compound (5-HMF) is the best potential antisickling agent in 30 years research to be discovered by our research group. 5-HMF not only is a natural product with very little if any toxicity, it has a high affinity for hemoglobin and was very active in genetically modified mice as shown by our colleagues, Dr. Osheiza Abdulmalik and Professor Toshio Asakura, the Director of the NHLBI Sickle Cell Disease Reference Laboratory at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), University of Pennsylvania. A number of us, especially my very close colleagues at VCU, Professors Martin Safo and Gajanan Joshi, have spent most of our lives searching for a sickle cell drug and we are hoping that this quest is finally achieved."
Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic blood disorder caused by an abnormality in the hemoglobin molecule. Patients with this disease often produce stiff, abnormally shaped cells that do not flow freely through blood vessels, creating clogs in the vessels, which in turn cut off the flow of normal hemoglobin and oxygen to the body. In Nigeria alone, more than 25% of the population are carriers of the SCD trait and over 4.5 million Nigerians (approximately 5% of the population) are actually afflicted with the disease. Approximately 12 million people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, are believed to suffer from this disease worldwide.
About Xechem
Xechem International, Inc. is a development stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on anticancer, antiviral (including AIDS), antifungal, Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), antimalarial and antibacterial products from natural sources, including microbial and marine organisms. Xechem's mission is to bring relief to the millions of people who suffer from these diseases. Its primary focus is on the development of phyto-pharmaceuticals and other proprietary technologies, including those used in the treatment of orphan diseases. Its primary attention and resources are currently being directed toward the development and commercial launch of NICOSAN(TM)/HEMOXIN(TM), which has shown efficacy in the treatment of SCD.
About VCU and the VCU Medical Center
Located on two downtown campuses in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is ranked nationally by the Carnegie Foundation as a top research institution and enrolls more than 28,500 students in over 181 certificate, undergraduate, graduate, professional and doctoral programs in the arts, sciences and humanities in 15 schools and one college. Forty of the University's programs are unique in Virginia, and 20 graduate and professional programs have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best of their kind. MCV Hospitals, clinics and the health sciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the leading academic medical centers in the country. For more, see www.vcu.edu.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by safe harbors created hereby. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
